Alpaca Festival Draws Hundreds to Alliant Center in Madison, WI for Weekend Celebration
- — Hundreds gathered at the Alliant Energy Center this weekend to celebrate one unique animal: the alpaca.
- Admission to the event was free for families, though the Alliant Energy Center charges a $10 parking fee.
- Alpacas and llamas are indigenous to South America, and their importation to the United States began in the mid to late 1980s, contributing to a growing industry, according...
MADISON, Wis. — Hundreds gathered at the Alliant Energy Center this weekend to celebrate one unique animal: the alpaca. The 2026 Great Midwest Alpaca Festival and the Wisconsin Alpaca and Fiber Fest returned to the Alliant Energy Center’s New Holland Pavilion on April 25 and 26, featuring a double alpaca halter show, walking fleece show, and full fiber fest.
Admission to the event was free for families, though the Alliant Energy Center charges a $10 parking fee. Visitors had the opportunity to watch breeders show off their alpacas and shop more than 40 vendors offering items such as yarn, roving, raw fleece, socks, sweaters, teddy bears, soap, pottery, and baskets.
Alpacas and llamas are indigenous to South America, and their importation to the United States began in the mid to late 1980s, contributing to a growing industry, according to Elden Harms of Token Creek Alpacas in Evansville.
Alissa Werner of Lucky Clover Farm described the animals as friendly and treat-trained, noting that her children, including her 6-year-old, handle them regularly and can teach them tricks. She said the alpacas “come up, they give you kisses” and are responsive to training.
Dustin Werner of Lucky Clover Farm emphasized that children can work with the animals, including walking them through obstacle courses at home and showing them at various events, though not necessarily at this particular festival.
Tom Wilson of Mystery’s Meadow Farm and Artisan Fiber Mill in Iowa explained that alpaca fiber differs from wool because it lacks lanolin and has a microscopic hollow structure, making it an effective thermal insulator that wicks moisture away. He added that this results in a soft, light fiber ideal for artisan goods.
Wilson, who co-founded the fiber mill with his wife about five years ago, described the processing steps: raw fiber is picked to remove impurities, tumbled to eliminate dust and dirt, washed and dried, then passed through a picker, fiber separator, carder, and draw frame to prepare it for use in products.
The festival serves as a platform for education and engagement with alpaca husbandry and fiber arts, drawing attendees interested in sustainable textiles and animal husbandry practices.